Time for Training! (Squirrelpaw)

[Night]

Nightfeather trotted out of the Warriors den. The day was bright and sunny, and the trees and plants were beginning to bud. Spring was definitely on its way! She stretched and yawned, the last signs of her sleepiness fading away to joy. Yesterday Brilliantstar had given her a new apprentice! She was an orange she-cat with bright blue eyes, and a bushy tail. She seemed to be quite skiddish, and so Squirrelpaw seemed a very fitting name for her. Nightfeather had heard gossip around the camp that Squirrelpaw had seemed not to be able to make a good warrior. She just snorted with annoyance. She knew that any apprentice could make a fine warrior, with the right amount of training! I vow to make Squirrelpaw the best warrior I can! Nightfeather told herself, and trotted off to the apprentices den. She peeked her head in and looked around. Nightfeather had been told by the medicine cat that Squirrelpaw had a busted leg. She had been told to go easy on her training, but Nightfeather knew that even the most small of injures could be a bother. The messed up leg had given her a limp, which could be trouble while battle training. Nightfeather put her mind off of the subject and looked around. There were only a few apprentices in the den, and her mind flooded with memories from her apprenticeship. "Squirrelpaw! Get up! It's time for training!" Nightfeather whispered loud enough for the apprentice to hear. Hopefully she hadn't scared the apprentice.

[Silentheart]

The small she-cat awoke with a start, heart hammering in her chest, blue eyes wide with terror. She swore she had heard her name being called, but now, she wasn't so certain- but then, it sounded again. She looked behind her, to the entrance of the den to see Nightfeather, and reality dawned on her. She was an apprentice now- an warrior apprentice, to the Deputy of all cats. She shuddered with anxiety, knowing that now, she would have to start her training, even if she really didn't want to. Swallowing back her fear, with little success, she staggered to her feet, wincing on her stiff, bad leg. She carefully picked her way among her fellow apprentices, careful not to awaken any of them. With her less than graceful steps, it was hard, especially since she had chosen the most secluded spot, away from the other's as she possibly could in the small den.

It was easy enough to get her small, bony body out of the den, although her large, busy tail was tugged by bramble thorns. The second she was free, she looked around frantically for any sign of danger, only able to note the warm weather and clear blue skies- a sure sign that Leafbare was to an end, and the mark of a new Newleaf would begin. She busied herself as much as possible, looking around the busy camp, before she knew she couldn't avoid it any longer, turning and nervously meeting her mentor's eyes. "H-Hi N-Nightfeather." She stuttered, sitting and shuffling her paws on the dusty ground, waiting for the deputy to tell her today's training session, although she chose not to ask. Maybe if she didn't mention it, Nightfeather would forget about training, and maybe she'd never have to become a warrior at all.

[Night]

Nightfeather watched the small she-cat jump to her feet and stumble through the den, trying not to step on any other apprentices. When she finally emerged from the small den, Squirrelpaw glanced around nervously and finally looked at Nightfeather. "H-Hi N-Nightfeather." The young apprentice stuttered. Nightfeather's mind was stabbed with sadness. If she had gone through as much as this little kit had so young, she would probably be the exact same way. "Good morning, Squirrelpaw! Ready for your first day of training?" Nightfeather purred. She sat her tail on Squirrelpaw's shoulder. "Don't worry, sweetie. You will get the training in no time. And remember, I know exactly how you feel. My father died soon after I became a warrior, so if you ever need any support, I'm here for you." Nightfeather meowed sadly. Memories from her father's death flashed through her eyes, and she had to push them back down before she wailed in sadness. It was time to train her apprentice. "Squirrelpaw, I figured that on your first day as an apprentice I should show you around the territory. I want to teach you scents of other clans before we start training to hunt. Battle training will come later." Nightfeather meowed to the apprentice, and signaled with her tail for the apprentice to follow her through the entrance of the camp and into Thunderclan's territory.

Tagged: Nightfeather/Squirrelpaw
Words: 252